Decorated 50 years later for wartime actions

Paul Tollefsrud, 90, in his Richlands home, holds his Aviation Medal, with three gold and two silver stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross with four gold stars awarded to him.

John Althouse/The Daily News

By THOMAS BRENNAN - Daily News Staff

Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 01:45 PM.

During Paul Tollefsrud’s three years of service he would be awarded five Distinguished Flying Crosses and 17 Air Medals — something he wouldn’t become aware of until his mail arrived in 1998.

Tollefsrud served as a Marine dive bomber during World War II.

His 110 flight missions in the Pacific, which barely spanned a year, consisted of constant submarine reconnaissance and security missions in and around Midway.

“We’d pick up the submarines and circle them,” Tollefsrud said. “We’d always be on the lookout for enemy U-Boats. Then we’d escort them back to Midway. ... After spending about a year on Midway, we were about to go on a mission to mainland Japan, but the atomic bombs were on their way.”

Dangerous missions were not out of the ordinary, said Tollefsrud who flew in the SBD and the Curtis Helldiver SB2C as the gunner of dual 30 caliber machine guns.

“There was a storm front coming in one time and we didn’t know about it,” Tollefsrud said. “We hit it and had to drop from 20,000 feet to 200 feet above the water. We flew like that for about two hours. We were an easy target.”

From the very beginning, he knew he loved flying and wasn’t easily scared in the air.

During Paul Tollefsrud’s three years of service he would be awarded five Distinguished Flying Crosses and 17 Air Medals — something he wouldn’t become aware of until his mail arrived in 1998.

Tollefsrud served as a Marine dive bomber during World War II.

His 110 flight missions in the Pacific, which barely spanned a year, consisted of constant submarine reconnaissance and security missions in and around Midway.

“We’d pick up the submarines and circle them,” Tollefsrud said. “We’d always be on the lookout for enemy U-Boats. Then we’d escort them back to Midway. ... After spending about a year on Midway, we were about to go on a mission to mainland Japan, but the atomic bombs were on their way.”

Dangerous missions were not out of the ordinary, said Tollefsrud who flew in the SBD and the Curtis Helldiver SB2C as the gunner of dual 30 caliber machine guns.

“There was a storm front coming in one time and we didn’t know about it,” Tollefsrud said. “We hit it and had to drop from 20,000 feet to 200 feet above the water. We flew like that for about two hours. We were an easy target.”

From the very beginning, he knew he loved flying and wasn’t easily scared in the air.

“The first time I was going up, I threw on my parachute and walked to the plane,” Tollefsrud said. “The captain I was flying with threw me a paper bag just in case I lost my cookies. Once we were airborne he dropped the plane from 12,000 feet to 5,000 feet while upside down just to see what I was made of. I think I did OK.”

Part of being good in the air is having a mutual trust between you and the pilot, he said.

“I was never scared while flying,” Tollefsrud said. “I loved flying and I was good with my machine gun. I trusted the pilot and he trusted me. We kept each other safe.”

When asked about his decorated military career Tollefsrud said he isn’t special.

“Other gunners have more than me,” he said. “Others did more flights overseas than me. I just did my job and I happened to get medals for that. I don’t even understand why I got so many. I don’t think I even deserve them. A lot of fellows were killed and didn’t get anything. I’m not special.”

While overseas he had time to look back and think about when he joined the Corps.

“My parents didn’t like it,” he said. “But it would have been something I was forced to do if I didn’t volunteer. My dad especially wasn’t happy but he still signed the papers. And I’m glad he did because I made some amazing friends. The friends were my favorite part. We looked out for each other. We had no animosity between us.”

Being deployed took a toll on Tollefsrud as he was a newlywed when he first left.

“I hated not being home,” Tollefsrud said. “I missed my wife the most. She meant a whole lot to me and I couldn’t wait to see her again.”

His time at war has left him with questions that may never be answered, he said.

“I was very fortunate — very fortunate,” Tollefsrud said. “I went where they told me to and did what they told me to and I came home alive.

“So many of my classmates and fellow Marines weren’t that lucky. I often wonder why I’m alive and here and they’re not.”

The Daily News is looking for World War II veterans who would like to share their story. If you or someone you know served in World War II, contact Military Reporter Thomas Brennan at 910-219-8453 or thomas.brennan@jdnews.com . Follow him on Twitter @ thomasjbrennan.